Record month boosts hotels

Tasmania’s accommodation sector enjoyed a bumper February, logging the second highest occupancy rate on record for a single month, according to new figures from the state’s peak hospitality body.

And the soaring demand is expected to continue over the Easter period, Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) chief executive Steve Old said.

The THA’s Hotel Occupancy Report for February – traditionally a peak month for tourism – showed that 89.71 per cent of available rooms across Tasmania were filled, trailing only the record high of 90.43 per cent occupancy in February 2016.

Across the summer quarter, hotels observed an 84.36 per cent occupancy rate overall, an increase of almost 2 per cent on last summer and the third highest recorded occupancy figure ever, behind the 2015-16 and 2016-17 summer periods.

Operators in the North of the state did a roaring trade in particular, hitting a high of 92.45 per cent occupancy in February, while the NorthWest had 88.17 per cent of its rooms booked out.

Hotels in the South logged 90 per cent occupancy for the first time since 2018 and rooms on the East Coast were 82.98 per cent booked.

As the cost of living continues to bite, the median room rate was $234.68 in February, which was an increase of $9 on 12 months ago. The average yield, meanwhile, was $210.54 – also an increase of $9.

Mr Old said the latest occupancy numbers showed that Tasmania’s accommodation sector was strong and resilient.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our hospitality sector, as well as the enduring appeal of Tasmania as a mustvisit destination,” he said.

Mr Old said hotel operators had told him the Easter holiday period was looking “strong” for them in terms of bookings.

“I think they’re hoping for a busy Easter period, especially because Easter is at the end of March this year and it works in a bit better with daylight savings still being here and the better weather,” he said.